Chicago/Rockford International to Hector International RFD → FAR
435 nautical miles (501 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 313°, about 316° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3W). At 120 knots that is 3 h 47 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RFD is VFR, wind calm; FAR is low IFR, wind from the north (010°) at 13 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 28 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 49 to 198 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 69 nm of the route.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from RFD.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- A321 at 16,500 ft, 38 nm southwest, 10:25 pm CDT (03:25 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: during the climb. 257 nm along the route, 38 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
MSP UA /OV MSP235040/TM 0325/FL165/TP A321/TB CONS LGT /RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through MSP
- Where
- 40 nm southwest (235°) of MSP
- Time
- 03:25 UTC
- Height
- at 16,500 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- during the climb
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (DBQ, LSE, MSP, AXN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | +5 kt | 115 kt | 3 h 47 min | 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC) | |
| 6,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +10 kt | 15 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 57 min | 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +9 kt | 12 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 55 min | 4:43 am CDT (09:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | +9 kt | 8 °C | 111 kt | 3 h 55 min | 4:43 am CDT (09:43 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | +10 kt | 4 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 57 min | 4:45 am CDT (09:45 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | +13 kt | -1 °C | 107 kt | 4 h 04 min | 4:52 am CDT (09:52 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 260° at 27 kt | +16 kt | -5 °C | 104 kt | 4 h 11 min | 4:59 am CDT (09:59 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 29 kt | +18 kt | -9 °C | 102 kt | 4 h 16 min | 5:04 am CDT (10:04 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 33 kt | +20 kt | -21 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 21 min | 5:09 am CDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 40 kt | +20 kt | -35 °C | 100 kt | 4 h 21 min | 5:09 am CDT (10:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 45 kt | +28 kt | -44 °C | 92 kt | 4 h 44 min | 5:32 am CDT (10:32 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 58 kt | +42 kt | -52 °C | 78 kt | 5 h 35 min | 6:23 am CDT (11:23 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBQ | used from 0 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 230/33 | 250/30 16° | 280/15 9° | 260/15 5° | 260/21 -7° | 260/24 -20° | 250/37 -33° | 270/42 -43° | 280/63 -52° |
| LSE | used from 99 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 230/40 | 240/24 17° | 240/13 10° | 250/13 6° | 280/22 -9° | 250/28 -21° | 250/41 -34° | 260/42 -44° | 270/62 -53° |
| MSP | used from 198 nm out; 19 nm from the line | 230/26 | 240/30 17° | 240/24 12° | 250/22 5° | 250/35 -10° | 260/36 -21° | 250/41 -36° | 250/49 -45° | 260/58 -52° |
| AXN | used from 297 nm out; 31 nm from the line | 100/14 | 250/21 14° | 240/24 12° | 240/31 5° | 260/36 -10° | 260/40 -21° | 250/42 -36° | 260/48 -45° | 260/53 -50° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 25,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 25,000 ft | 742 ft | 11:54 pm CDT (04:54 UTC) |
| JVL Janesville, WI | 20 nm out, 21 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 807 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| MRJ Mineral Point, WI | 69 nm out, 6 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,170 ft | ||||
| OVS Boscobel, WI | 89 nm out, 5 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 672 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| LSE La Crosse, WI | 138 nm out, 10 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 655 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| RST Rochester, MN | 178 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 9 mi | none | 1,317 ft | 04:54 UTC |
| MSP Minneapolis, MN | 237 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 17,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 17,000 ft | 841 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| STC St Cloud, MN | 297 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (340°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,030 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| AXN Alexandria, MN | 346 nm out, 13 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the north-northeast (030°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,425 ft | 04:53 UTC |
| FFM Fergus Falls, MN | 386 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the north (010°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 1,182 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| DTL Detroit Lakes, MN | 405 nm out, 20 nm northeast of the line | IFR Sky: overcast at 800 feet | from the north-northeast (030°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 800 ft | 1,395 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| FAR Fargo, ND | destination | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the north (010°) at 13 knots | 2.5 mi | 300 ft | 901 ft | 12:12 am CDT (05:12 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,425 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At FAR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:35 am CDT (09:35 UTC)
Wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet IFR
The whole forecast for FAR
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 14 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 300 feet
- At times between Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
- From Mon 3:00 am CDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the north at 13 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, overcast at 700 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC) and 5:00 pm CDT (22:00 UTC): light rain showers
The forecast for RFD, the departure
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 13 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/6656 ANOKA, MN, Monday, October 5, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, 257 nm along the route · security · until 19 October · ZMP
Daylight
Sunset at RFD 6:19 pm CDT (23:19 UTC), at FAR 6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:16 pm CDT (00:16 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at FAR is before sunrise there (7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Chicago/Rockford International, Hector International.